Susceptibility of human and non-human cell lines to HCV infection as determined by the centrifugation-facilitated method

The centrifugation-facilitated inoculation method was used to test 51 human and non-human cell lines for ability to support HCV replication As determi ned by nested RT-PCR, one fifth of the cell lines tested were virus positiv e 15 days post inoculation suggesting that the centrifugation-facilitated i noculation is an efficient method for cell infection with HCV. However, Vir us production by infected cultures remained of low grade, thus showing that the unknown factors which limit HCV replication in vitro are not overcome by the procedure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.